Building construction



A. TODHUNTERi 2,440,763 BUILDING CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Feb. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 4, 19 48.

'A. TCDHUNTER BUILDING QONS TRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N VEN 7'01 fix? THUR 60110 TER Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED ST TES forties j BUILDINQCONSilItUCTIObI Li roammt rg Ma -Queue, c rats Application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,684 Q Introduction a l I This invention relates to building construction. Generall speaking, buildings, particularly houses, are constructedatthe building site, the various materials employedjbeing'cut to size and erected on the spot. However, it is of great advantage to employ st be made in a factory speciallyequipped and manned for their most economical manufacture en masse and subsequently'shippedto distant sites forassemblin' Objects It is, therefore, an object of the present inven tion to provide a form of construction which lends itself to the prefabrication in a manufacturing establishment of parts which can be eventually assembled togetherin a simple manner at the building site. It is a further object of the invention to provide structural Darts, subassernblies an'd'assemblies of unique and novel form.

With these and'other objects in View, the invention is preferably embodied in a type of building construction employing a'number'of sections which can be assembled together to form wall, floor and roof units. All these-units are preferably of a similar construction,- each-being 'made up of sections provided witha facing of aparticular sheet material' of to be described inmore detaiLand a lining either of the same type of sheet or' of conventional flat material. The linings and the facings'arelspaced apart and connected byspecial supporting meme bers or studs which are provided .with tenons adapted to fit into the dovetailed depressions in the sheets. At the junction' betweennadjacentsections, special cover. joints are provided. .to fit over the dovetailed "projectionsat the vjointspztoc key them together and to rendercthem impervious. Atthe corners ofthe buildingisp'ecial sheeting and cover joints are also provided-:1 I

Preferably, eac

wall unit. The roof,-.wa-ll and floor units arelheld together at the corners ofthe building-andjintermediately by vertically extending tie-rods. in j, 7

This particular; form of construction lends it-t self to a methodof assembly which can be;per-,

formed by unskilled labour and there ore iacili tates the erection-of the building at the building preferred method, the fi stplac ng thegco According to this sections are assembled by gated sheets edge to edge, then slipping the-cover.

hin s i lace to ho d t emtoeet errth nzsiiut ndardized parts which can a dovetailed conformation wall unit ,is supported in a special channel adapted to receivefiitsilower.cedgei and another channel coverssthe top edge ofjeach fsciai s. (01. 189-1 ing the supporting niemberslpr studs mtg the dove-tailed corrugations at thejoint and at desirable intervals tospacetne raci and lining apart. Insulationis then inserted between the V facing andlliningt; Wind0ws and doors are set into the sheeting at intervals The units thus formed are set into channels at top and bottom, which align theunits, 'The floor, wall and roof are t hen broughtinto their-respective positions and, the tie rods inserted to hold the units toether M 'Ifie-rods; also extend longitudinally of the: Wall units giving iurther strength and stiffnessinthat direction i i a .J'p ai dgdesqr paon Details of this preferred construction and 0thers are givenin' the following description by which the invention will bei lb'etter. understood. This description has reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich: 1 14.1 a

Figure '1 is a; perspective view: of a one-storey building .Iconstructed according to thecinvention. I ig'ure 2 is a fragmentarytsectioned View of the building shown inlFigure 1 inlwhich portions have been cutaway to illustrateithenstructure of the' wall,floorandroofunits.

Figure 3is a plan view partially in section of a portion of thewall ofthebuildingshown inFigureslsand 2 with the roof and top flanges ofthe wallremoved; 1 l a V iFigureritis acfragmentary vertical cross section through the building shown .in Figure ladjacent.

a cornerthereof,.particularly illustrating the mannerinwhichlthe roof, wallsand floor are secured'together; 1t: I

:Figure5is an enlargedplan view, partly in section; of a corner of the .buildingshown in the pre viousfigurcs; a v t l Figurefi is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross sectional ,view illustrating an" alternative form'ofstud.; .c a J t Figure 7. isa fragmentary" perspective view of one of the coverjoints. 1 1 i t i Figures 8, 9 and 10 arerragn entary cross,sec-

tional views of alternatetypes of joints between respective sections. l i Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross sectionalview through an alternative form of sheeting.

Figure 12 is a. fragmentary cross-sectional view through an alternativeiorm of walladjacent a spacer between. facing andlining. l Reierring more particularly to the drawings,

roofunit B and a door unit 0.

isj o emanate 51 11 r di prefabri- Each of these 2,440,763 r 4 cated impervious structure to be described. The and-floor and by suitable bolts secures these parts units are connected at their adjacent margins to together. The tie-rods 80 are preferably accomform a strong and easily erected structure. modated in a recess formed in the corner .posts So that the structure of the units will be under- 2!] as best indicated in Figure 5. stood, I shall first describe a wall unit A. This I, Inthe case of additional storeys to the building, unit is made up of afacing ll of corrugated sheetthe channels F may be replaced by H-sections, ing having alternate projections Ila and indentathe top channel of which carries the wall of the tions I lb preferably of the dovetail conformation additional storey. shown, andsa liningl2... f simila ,sheetinea Y ternativeiy;theumingni y be flat shes-s aiter 1o, i m tive structures arabe'st shown in Figures 3 and 5. It" is evidentthat the structure as above de- Each unit is made up of several sections. Each. sc i p des a st n durable, i us section has, intermediate it ends, an elongatd" rear, floor and. wall construction. The corrugated vertical stud. 14 having a flaring tefinialtlzfflimiiz V w ge y the Studs in the directiflnflf s and back fitting in the respective-recesses,termed, v e extreme streng h- The J s at the reverse side of the projectidns fM-anawzu- I impervious. The connection d ng i e shoulderssfmmedzatthesne k rand. floor umts is Such as to of the projections. In the case of the fiat, lin a ord'stability in all directions. The sections of 13 it is screwed or nailed to the studs 14." c .unit, being capable of separate assembly, At the end of each section, the facing II and 20 render. prefabrication flossible. The simplicity the'lining- I'Z termiri "tes in semfiddvetail projec with which the respeetiv' sections and units are "a irrespective studs: armpit) assembled attraction orthebuih iing vided-which semi 'etai rbrit-and back a m theia cry faces l'ii'dfit' "W spective semi dovetailv projeetio [2dr The e dirad j aeent 25: 1 settle to thersit t -th'e s urmsinentar cross sectiqnfliames. joint. Here the ends oi theshetin'g-BO' of respective sections are-, brmsght together and intifie du. a o the (it) the juxtaposed mu derers-n flanges l8 adapted to lie along depressions llb,i thenputintdplace by sliding it on endwise. This eositietsstne joint locking the sections te'gethen. i Wham twin...cqrrn alie Q sheets are employed; timers arcuveriieintgbethzat the 1 acing. andatizthealining-g as ishewniiniliir ,ulefii 'Atthscomer; of the; wallitheresis pr. yideda a square corner post 20, the outalbfacesmir are covered-2 withi a cer'nerr nieaa; 251 of; similar sheeting toxthee facin and: li ng; but; hail-i112: a'. corner portion 25mm; munderliflr. otli'ehsuitable conformation The-endsiofiadjacentzsectiorisiair butteds againstz.thescornr-rostt the-edgeoffi th sl'iaulderas' facing l l abutting the;9MB BfthBrnQfilirpifldii tanr dsidesi ermina e as. x ii; cwisrms as hs theitenonio -aistudials As nz esusuali a nert and studs l4 and Hi from one end oifthesiwailzto i s ectimriafiait mzoii sheeting tnestner.1tniisniacins it-in;triesiunsitaeinaiiuimssenmmdentaiior a reetion. "Bolt-s se retrie endsscstheatiesous: mssssmtiQm. lnstti'lszfiifi The weii zis set at. he; bott miiml ascspecial. andiceversieintalflhialsmoisctmularrcr. channel' rneinber llr(see.Eigure'm" hairinghminner areusditficofrifinstu. hersliailaofe hz hes infir flange Ml engaging the inside. of the 'wallflining' Elw n?- 22 illustrated. ani'a ifim attvfis mim-i and ari eaten-flange tiiens ine tn inside'ci the s acing: memhersfirrstudehaving, dav tailediends" which the facing is adapted to rest-{extendingfa'c n5 (is-manning; ii resnwtivelyiz. The outwaresirom tnerflan The m mber-Erase M stud"isaalsiiifirovidediwitiiriSlots:l'i'fismldirastbea has a flange 43' eii t'eiidina owriwardiytrrenrthe tween; theiacingiaiidi liriiiig. "adantede to receive. vledge 42. Covering the top of th dividing shetslr llii nel memb'enE-having :fiarigesgfi Tli'elidinienslensioiithe.nuildiiig aremapablesof respectively the inner side infihite' vaiiatieiii lnvakpaiticuiairrhouse 'of idia outer side sr-tiie raeingr y a p r xi 8liv39-f9ti13e2ii feet a. "The rad an-u rinor ssreetureissi i1 tern-ates v" ellieafiws the wall. The roof comprises e 1 g a mat s'scaseith ii e1 mans t2; rafters ,IB I aiitP'sit ingG: v rmnepmsmsrgnes are-e1 1a ana-ariasningn; lit-tn art. Insulation I05 may be placed between the lining and facing of the units. It is preferable that this insulation *does not fill the entire space but that 'aigapis left'between the facing and the insulation as shown in Figure 3,

Another modification in'structure is shown in Figure 6. In this case ,the wooden studs joining the facing and lining together are replaced by a metal stud M of the cross section shown, the stud having a tenon H engaging the recess of the facing in the manner above described. The stud M has fiangesllli which are connected, in this case, .to a horizontally orverticallyextending slat H to which thelining is attached.

The material from which the elements of the structureare made may, of course, be widely varied}. The sheeting maybe of metal, plastic, glass, paper or any other material lending itself to the structure as described.

The space between the facing and lining has been shown as filled with fibrous insulating material. This space may be filled with concret or other material which gives both insulation and structural strength. Alternatively, the spacing studs may be employed to give structural strength and to leave space for insulating material such as cork, sawdust, rock wool, aluminium foil, fibre board, etc.

The outer faces of the corrugated sheets may receive stucco, plaster, etc., so as to provide normal outside and inside wall finishes. A stucco of weak mixture with large proportion of aggregate may be used which is not so liable to crack as a strong mixture but readily allows rain water to penetrate. Because of the impenetrable nature of the cover joints, the penetration of rainwater through the stucco is not of the same importance as in ordinary construction which does not have impenetrable joints behind the stucco.

The method of construction described is featured by the possibility of breaking up the materials for building a house, etc., into fiat sheets which can be joined together at the site by sliding studs into sockets in the Wall sheets.

Strength is obtained in thin sheet material by sliding a member or stud with dovetailed edge into a. dove-tailed corrugation in the sheet, thus supporting the sheet through its entire height and making it possible because of its close connection with the stud to hold considerable downward thrust of a roof or similar weight placed on it.

The cover joints not together but form a cover to the joint which is impervious to water. They are not observable as in the case of strips of wood or metal which are normally used to cover joints between sections. By their use the exterior of a building is made to look like a continuous corrugation Without joints.

While the description has been in terms of a building, the sheeting and attendant structure may be employed in the manufacture of fencing or for similar purposes.

It will be understood that, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims, various other modifications may be made in the specific expedients described. The latter are illustrative only and not offered in a restrictive sense, it being desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as may be required by the state of the prior art.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplify reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

only hold ends of sectionsstuds of adjacent section the cover sheet serving to 6 Iclaim: H, 1:1. In a building structure a plurality of sec-'- tions forming a wall of the structure, each section having a facing of corrugated sheeting, the corrugationsbeing in the form of dovetail projections or cells, an end of each section being provided, with a pairof studs having tenons of semi-dovetail conformation extending into a semi-dovetail end ,projection of, the facin the being juxtaposed, and a cover member having a depression of dovetail conformation conforming to the dovetail projection formed at the joint by the juxtaposed semi-dovetail projections of adjacent sections,

lock the adjacent sections together and to shield the joint.

2. In a building structure a plurality of sections forming a wall of the structure, each section having a facing of corrugated sheeting, the corrugations being in the form of dovetail projections or cells, an end of each section being provided with a pair of studs having tenons of semi-dovetail conformation extending into a semi-dovetail end projection of the facing, the studs of adjacent sections being juxtaposed, and a cover member having a depression of dovetail conformation conforming to the dovetail projection formed at the joint by the juxtaposed semidovetail projections of adjacent sections, the cover sheetserving to lock the adjacent sections together and to shield the joint, a corner post, a corner sheeting piece covering the corner post, its edges being formed by a semi-dovetail projection, cover joints covering the dovetail formed by the semi-dovetail of the respective wall sections and the corner sheeting section, the walls being set into channels at the top and bottom thereof, the channels serving to align the walls, the roof, walls and floor being connected at intervals by tie-rods extending through the top and bottom wall channels, the floor and roof units, and holding the units firmly together, the studs and cover members spacing and holding together the facing and lining sheeting throughout their length thus forming an integral structure.

3. A building construction, comprising, a roof, a floor and wall units all of similar construction, each unit being made up of rugated sheeting and a lining of dovetail corrugated sheeting, a number of studs joining the facing and the lining, each stud having a tenon engaging in a depression of the facing and lining respectively, the sections being joined together by adjacent half dovetail studs, studs of the respective sections inserted in half-dovetail projections in the ends of the respective sections, dovetail cover joints engaging the outside of the dovtail projection formed by the juxtaposed half-dovetail projections and studs of the adjacent section ends.

4. A method of building, comprising, forming a structural section by placing in spaced] apart parallel relationship two sections of dovetail corrugated sheeting having terminal projections of semi-dovetail conformation, inserting a stud having ends of dovetail conformation in opposite projections of the facing and lining respectively so as to hold the facing and lining together, in-

serting a semi-dovetail stud in each semi-dovetail tions together projection, bringing the ends of respective seeby juxtaposing the end studs of respective sections and sliding over the outside a number of sections, each section comprising a facing of dovetail coremu-met of the dovetail projection formed by the-respective semi-dovetail projections of the adjacent seetions-toeoverjoint-adaptedtoengagetheprm jcti'ons' and hold; them together.-

51 In a; lduilding construction, a-- Wall 'struct'ure, comprising; a. number of 'meta'l sections in which there are dovetail corrugations substantially equi spaced the lengthof eaeh section: andeach section ha stwoparallel edges of semi dovet'ail conformation; the sections 1 being placed edge to edge thereby to" form a: substantially complete dovetail projection div 'ded nee-r the: middle," a spaoerseparatingthe facing so formed iromzan inner lining of; like conformation, tenonsoil the spacer fitting within the dovetail indentation formed inside said dovetail: projectiom. a cover member. covering" said projection: and"- holding thesemi-dovetail edgestogether: and: to: said spacen; the spacer. being connected to the lining '8 tliussholdin'gitirewfacingmortlieliningihe-facin and; thee lining being; adap'tecll. to; form a: cell adapteditosreceive insulation;

' v TQDHUN IER;

REFERENCES 01 mm V Tfie= following references areof record in the file-of this-patent? i U i UNITEDSIATESEA'IBENTS;

Sheldon 1 NOV; 7, 1944 

